Stonewashed denim ready-to-wear and accessories (as seen on Ralph Lauren's spring 2010 runway) take influence from the Dirty Thirties to turn the workwear fabric into fashionable separates. Designer denim like Givenchy's bleached lace-up boots and McQ's high-waisted retro-chic skirt meet classic staples like the faded denim button-down from American Eagle.
>> Chanel has enjoyed a rash of Coco-centered films this year, and now it's Gucci's turn: a Gucci family-centered Ridley Scott vehicle, which has been in the works for years now, sounds like it may finally be moving forward — with Angelina Jolie in a leading role.
Scott and Jolie are currently in discussion, with the role of Patrizia Reggiano, who was sentenced to 29 years in jail for plotting the murder of her ex-husband Maurizio Gucci, on the table. A 2010 start date is being eyed for the film, reports Variety, but the script (which follows Gucci family through its heydey of the '70s and '80s, the subsequent power struggles, and the emergence of Maurizio, grandson of founder Guccio Gucci, to power — he put Tom Ford in place — before he was gunned down in front of his Milan apartment in 1995) is still in development. A Maurizio has yet to be cast — though Leonardo DiCaprio has been approached for the role.
>> CFDA, New York City Join to Subsidize Fashion Incubator for Emerging Designers —On Monday, New York City's Bloomberg administration announced that it will be subsidizing rent for a 10,000 square foot fashion incubator space; emerging designers will compete for twelve spaces in a showroom building in the garment district, with rent coming in at only $1,500 instead of the current $2,900 market price for a comparable space. The new tenants will be selected through a competition; winners will be announced in December and move-in — with a lease lasting two years — is expected in February. The applicants must be "working designers," according to CFDA executive director Steven Kolb, who have been in the business for a year and a half, employ a staff, and have both media attention and orders from top retailers. The CFDA also plans on giving the selected designers educational and industry support. [NYTimes City Room]
Matthew Williamson debuted his first accessory collection in collaboration with Atelier Swarovski on the runway for spring 2010.
Williamson's inspiration for the crystal cuffs, breastplate necklaces, and evening clutches was drawn from the artist Jim Lambie, who is best know for arranging brightly colored tape into geometric patterns. As a result the accessory collection consists of vibrantly colored, oversized graphic pieces—much in line with Williamson's signature aesthetic.
For the spring collections Atelier Swarovski also worked with Zaha Hadid (zigzag-shaped rings), Jason Wu (sculptural necklaces) and Nicholas Kirkwood to create exclusive crystal jewelry and accessories. Past designer collaborations have included Christopher Kane, Doo.Ri Chung, Hussein Chalayan, Giles Deacon, Proenza Schouler, Rodarte, and Philip Crangi.
>> After a month's worth of rumors and a noticeable uptick in his Yves Saint Laurent womenswear designs making appearances during Fashion Month, Tom Ford has confirmed that he plans to launch a signature women's collection "very soon" — according to WWD's sources, he's looking for a Fall 2010 launch, assuming that financing — he's estimated to be looking for at least $50 million — comes through. Ford notes:
Financing is extremely expensive right now, so if we find financing in the right situation we’ll be able to start [a women’s collection] soon. If we don’t, we may have to wait a while . . . You know it will take me 18 months when I start, because [I have] to hire the team, find the factories, put everything together and then get the stores ready so there’s a place for these clothes.
>> Spring 2010 Ad Campaign Casts for Alexander McQueen, Christian Dior, and Chanel: Revealed — After skipping out on a traditional ad campaign last season, it sounds like Christian Dior is bringing it back for Spring 2010 — John Galliano revealed Monday that Karlie Kloss is his girl of choice for the brand. Karl Lagerfeld, meanwhile, is continuing the trio theme from the Spring 2010 Chanel show finale for his campaign cast — menage a trois participants Freja Beha Erichsen and Baptiste Giabiconi are both staying on, with Claudia Schiffer replacing Lara Stone; Lagerfeld plans to shoot the threesome on location in Buenos Aires, marking his first time in Argentina. And word is Nick Knight and Raquel Zimmermann, who worked together to produce the background video for Alexander McQueen's presentation, also collaborated on the designer's forthcoming campaign. [WWD, WWD, WeLoveModels]
Karlie Kloss will appear in the spring 2010 Christian Dior advertising campaign.
Jerry Hall on writing poems and living with Mick Jagger's brood.
Anthropologie expands to Europe with London store debut.
Gucci launches iPhone app with a 24-hour music channel, travel tips, playlists and virtual turntables.
Marc Jacobs autographs bags to benefit Al Gore's nonprofit organization, The Climate Project.
Manolo Blahnik shows his colorful spring 2010 collection in London.
Source: Getty
It's official—Tom Ford announced in today's Women's Wear Daily he and longtime business partner, Domenico De Sole, are looking for financing to start a women's collection as earl as next fall. Although De Sole declined to discuss specific numbers, recent reports have estimated the duo needs at least 50 million to begin the new business.
Ford, who was in Tokyo to promote his film "A Single Man," sipped a Coke Zero during his interview with WWD and said, "I'm optimistic and this is something I plan on doing for the next 30 years of my life, so if I have to wait another six months or a year [to launch the collection], it's OK.
In the meantime, the designer/director is thinking about his next film—and planning to move production from Los Angeles to London where he can be closer to his design studio and jump easily back and forth between film editing and model fittings. [WWD]
